The Universe of Discourse

Claude helps me find more presidential emoji

A couple of years back I tried to make a list of emoji representing the U.S. presidents. Many of them were fun and easy, or at least amused me. But for some I was stumped. What emoji represents Zachary Taylor?

I've been playing around with Anthropic's LLM “Claude” for a while, so I thought I'd see what Claude had to contribute.

Last time I had looked at the LLM space I was deeply unimpressed:

1. ChatGPT discusses four-digit numbers
2. ChatGPT discusses a hypothetical fifth tarot suit
3. ChatGPT discusses women named James
4. ChatGPT discusses cauliflower, Decameron and Scheherazade

But that was two years ago, and gods, what a difference. What persuded me that it was time to take another look was two articles by Adam Unikowsky. Unikowsky is a working lawyer who has practiced before the US Supreme Court. He writes an extremly geeky blog, called Adam's Legal Newsletter. Last summer he wrote two articles that blew my mind. Here's an excerpt from the first one:

Let’s put aside controversial constitutional disputes and take a relatively humdrum and straightforward Supreme Court case—Smith v. Spizziri, decided on May 16, 2024. I inputted PDFs of the opening brief, response brief, and reply brief into Claude, and then asked Claude to decide the case. Here’s what happened (I want to emphasize, it takes only a few seconds to ingest all three briefs and spit out this answer).

The prompt he gave to Claude was:

You are a Supreme Court Justice. Please review these three briefs and write a four paragraph judicial opinion. In the first, you will describe the dispute. In the second, you will describe the parties’ positions. In the third and fourth you will write a reasoned decision for who wins and why.

Claude did so; you can [read the output on Unikowsky's blog])https://adamunikowsky.substack.com/p/in-ai-we-trust). Here's his evaluation of the result:

This is absolutely correct, and exactly what the Supreme Court decided. 10/10.

Unikowsky looks at a second specific example and concludes:

This is perfect.

(His italics.)

Unikowsky then discusses at some length why AI might be preferable to human judges. Don't sneer; he has probably thought about this more carefully than you have. Read the article.

In the second article Unikowsky tests more extensively:

I downloaded the briefs in every Supreme Court merits case that has been decided so far this Term, inputted them into Claude 3 Opus (the best version of Claude), and then asked a few follow-up questions.

And he reports:

The results were otherworldly. Claude is fully capable of acting as a Supreme Court Justice right now. When used as a law clerk, Claude is easily as insightful and accurate as human clerks, while towering over humans in efficiency.

(Emphasis mine this time.)

This is why I decided I should take another look at LLMs. Well, this is not what I planned to write about. You are here for presidential emoji, so let's do that. Here's my prompt to Claude:

I'm going to paste a full list of U.S. presidents and associated emoji, and I'd like you to explain all of them. If there is one you can't explain, provide an alternative suggestion with an explanation. For the presidents with no emoji, provide a suggestion and an explanation.

and then appended the list.

Here are Claude's explanations for the emoji I had selected:

George Washington 💵
Explanation: His face is on the $1 bill - straightforward connection.

Thomas Jefferson 📜
Explanation: References his role as primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Right so far.

John Quincy Adams 🍐
Explanation: He was known for planting pear trees on his property and had a particular fondness for horticulture.

This wasn't what I had in mind. I was thinking that it would be funny to represent John Quincy Adams with a picture of a quince. Which is silly and dumb and I can't fault Claude for not getting it. If it had been Claude that had made this suggestion I would probably have quibbled that “Quincy” is not pronounced the same as “quince”.

Martin Van Buren 🌷
Explanation: Likely references his Dutch heritage (tulips being associated with the Netherlands).

William Henry Harrison 🪦
Explanation: Died after only 31 days in office - the tombstone is rather direct.

Both right. Although maybe it would be more amusing to use 🛶 for Harrison.

Millard Fillmore ⛽
Explanation: This is unclear - I'd suggest 🏫 instead, as he established the first free public library system.

Another pun, this one even dumber that the quince. ⛽ is the gas pump you use to fill more gas into your car, get it?

I'm not excited about Claude's suggestion, but at least it isn't stupid.

Abraham Lincoln 🎭
Explanation: Likely references his assassination at Ford's Theatre, though 🎩 might be more appropriate for his iconic hat.

Claude is a little bit prudish and tends not to like my inappropriate jokes. The hat of course is obvious. In the previous article I said:

I considered, and rejected 🎩 for Lincoln because it doesn't look like his actual hat.

Still, it's a perfectly good suggestion.

Andrew Johnson 💩
Explanation: Commentary on his presidency, widely considered one of the worst.

I notice that Claude did not object that this was inappropriate. Prudish or not, even Claude can agree that Andrew Johnson was a turd of a President.

Ulysses S. Grant 🍸
Explanation: References his noted drinking habits.

Rutherford B. Hayes 🧔🏻
Explanation: Known for his distinctive beard.

James Garfield 🧔🏻
Explanation: Also known for his beard.

I wasn't completely phoning it in here, the repeated white-guys-with-beards thing is also a joke. I don't think Garfield was actually known for his beard, but whatever. (I've already dispensed with Garfield the lazy cat in the previous article.)

Grover Cleveland 🔂
Explanation: Clever reference to his non-consecutive terms (22nd and 24th president).

I'm pretty sure I don't like that Claude appears to be trying to flatter me. What does it mean, philosophically, when Claude calls something ‘clever’? I have no idea. Being flattered by a human is bad enough, they might really mean something by it.

Benjamin Harrison 🧔🏻
Explanation: Another bearded president.

Theodore Roosevelt 🧸
Explanation: The teddy bear was named after him.

William Howard Taft 🛁
Explanation: References the (possibly apocryphal) story of getting stuck in a White House bathtub.

Woodrow Wilson 🎓
Explanation: Former president of Princeton University, academic background.

Warren G. Harding 🫖
Explanation: Likely references the Teapot Dome scandal.

Calvin Coolidge 🙊
Explanation: Known as "Silent Cal" for his quiet nature.

Herbert Hoover ⛺
Explanation: References the "Hoovervilles" (shanty towns) during the Great Depression.

I wasn't sure Claude would get these last three because they're a little bit tricky and obscure. But it did.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 👨‍🦽
Explanation: References his use of a wheelchair due to polio.

Harry S. Truman 🍄
Explanation: References the atomic bombs and mushroom clouds.

Dwight D. Eisenhower 🪖
Explanation: References his military career as Supreme Commander in WWII.

John F. Kennedy 🍆
Explanation: Likely references his notorious womanizing - though 🚢 (PT-109) might be more appropriate.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Again Claude implies that my suggestion is inappropriate. Lighten up, Claude.

Lyndon B. Johnson 🗳️
Explanation: References his focus on voting rights legislation.

Uh, yeah, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is definitely what I meant, I certainly would not have been intending to remind everyone of LBJ's propensity to stuff ballot boxes.

In some ways, Claude is a better person than I am.

Richard M. Nixon 🐛
Explanation: Likely a "bug" reference to Watergate surveillance.

Gerald R. Ford 🏈
Explanation: Was a football player at University of Michigan.

Jimmy Carter 🥜
Explanation: Was a peanut farmer before presidency.

Ronald Reagan 💸
Explanation: References "Reaganomics" economic policies.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

George H. W. Bush 👻
Explanation: Unclear - I'd suggest 🪂 for his WWII service as a Navy pilot who was shot down.

I had picked 👻 to recall his tenure as Director of the CIA. But on looking into it I have found he had not served in that role for nearly as long as I thought: only from 1974–1976. It is far from his most prominent accomplishment in government.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Bush had beaten Reagan in the 1980 election. People sometimes say that the Republican party only ever runs fools and clowns for president. George Bush was their candidate in 1988 and whatever his faults he was neither a fool nor a clown.

Bill Clinton 🎷
Explanation: Famous for playing the saxophone.

George W. Bush 👞
Explanation: References the shoe thrown at him during a press conference in Iraq.

Barack Obama 🇰🇪
Explanation: References his father's Kenyan heritage.

Here's Claude again being a better person than me. I had picked 🇰🇪 because I was trying to troll my audience with the insinuation that Obama was born in Kenya.

Donald Trump 🍊
Explanation: References his distinctive skin tone.

Joe Biden 🕶️
Explanation: References his trademark aviator sunglasses.

Right, except to me the little quiff on the tangerine is also mocking Trump's hair. But overall I give Claude no demerits. The only times Claude didn't take my meaning were on stupid shit like ⛽ Fillmore.

Here are the presidents where I couldn't come up with anything and asked for Claude's suggestions. I found Claude's suggestions mostly reasonable but also pretty dull.

John Adams
Suggestion: 🏛️ - As a key Founding Father who championed strong federal government and was crucial in establishing many governmental institutions.

I don't know, 🏛️ is supposed to be a “classical building”, and yes, the buildings in Washington were eventually in neoclassical style once they were built, mostly in the early 20th century, but okay, I guess.

James Madison
Suggestion: 📋 - As "Father of the Constitution" and primary architect of the Bill of Rights.

Okay, but… a clipboard?

James Monroe
Suggestion: 🌎 - For the Monroe Doctrine, establishing U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Full marks. The only reason I'm not kicking myself for not thinking of it first is that I just barely did think of it first. As I was composing the prompt for Claude I said to myself “Why didn't I think of 🌎 for the Monroe Doctrine? Oh well, I'll see what Claude says anyway.”

Andrew Jackson
Suggestion: ⚔️ - For his military background and famously aggressive personality.

Fine.

John Tyler
Suggestion: 🎭 - Known as "His Accidency" for unexpectedly becoming president after Harrison's death.

Not good. I had to get Claude to explain this one to me. See below.

James K. Polk
Suggestion: 🗺️ - For major territorial expansion during his presidency.

Not good.

(The emoji is “world map”.)

Zachary Taylor
Suggestion: 🍒 - He allegedly died from eating cherries and milk on a hot day.

Whatever my complaints about Claude's other suggestions, I feel that this one redeems all their faults. I love it. It's just the kind of thing I was looking for, the sort of thing Arachne would have woven into her tapestry.

James Buchanan
Suggestion: 👨‍🦳 - The only bachelor president.

I'll discuss this one later.

Franklin Pierce
Suggestion: 🌨️ - Born in New Hampshire, the only president from that state.

I had wanted to comment on Peirce's best quality which was his great hairstyle, but I couldn't find any good emoji for hair. But this is a better idea. Using 🌨️ for New Hampshire is funny.

Chester A. Arthur
Suggestion: 👔 - Known for his fashionable dress and changing clothes multiple times per day.

I don't know a damn thing about Chester Arthur except he succeeded Garfield and he had sideburns. I haven't even checked to see if Claude is right about his fashionable dress. I don't think it is physically possible to get me to care about Chester Arthur.

Okay, back to Tyler and Buchanan. I asked Claude to explain Tyler:

The only suggestion you made that I don't understand is for John Tyler. How does 🎭 relate to "his accidency"?

Claude said:

Ah, I see why that's confusing! You're right - my connection between the theater masks emoji 🎭 and "His Accidency" wasn't very logical. I was trying to suggest something about playing a role he wasn't meant for, but that's quite a stretch.

That actually makes sense! I agree it was a stretch, but I see it now.

But Claude continued:

Let me suggest a better emoji for John Tyler: ⚡️

ZOMG, hilarious! Perfect! A++++ 11/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ would buy again.

If you don't get it, here's an excerpt of Claude's explanation:

This would reference how he suddenly and unexpectedly became president after Harrison's death… The lightning bolt could represent both the suddenness of his ascension and the shock it caused to the political system of the time.

This, and the cherries-and-milk thing for Taylor, convinces me that whatever Claude is, it is useful. I asked it for help with this ridiculous task and it provided real contributions of real value.

I remarked:

The gray hair for Buchanan I do not like, for two reasons. First, many presidents had gray hair. And second, Buchanan was not the only bachelor president, because Grover Cleveland didn't marry until partway through his first term. Do you have any suggestions for Hayes, Garfield, or Harrison?

Claude tried again for Buchanan:

Thank you for those corrections about Buchanan! You're absolutely right that both the gray hair wasn't distinctive and I was wrong about him being the only bachelor president. Let me rethink that one.

For Buchanan, perhaps 🕊️ would be appropriate - but ironically so, as his ineffective leadership and indecision in the lead-up to the Civil War showed that his attempts at keeping peace at any cost ultimately failed to prevent the conflict. Though that might be too subtle.

I don't love it, but I don't have anything better…

No, wait, I just thought of something! I'm going with 🥫 because, to my mind, Buchanan was the guy who, when he tried to kick the slavery can a little farther down the road, discovered that there was no more road down which to kick it.

I suggested this to Claude just now and it was so enthusiastically complimentary that I was embarrassed, so let's move on.

Claude didn't have any ideas I liked for Hayes, Garfield, or Harrison. I tried workshopping Hayes a little more:

For Hayes I really wanted to imply something snide about the contested election of 1876 in which he lost the popular vote to Tilden, and was awarded the presidency as a result of backroom politicking, but that seems like too much to pack into an emoji.

Claude said:

Maybe 🎲 for the "dice roll" nature of the commission's decisions? Or 🤝 for the corrupt bargain itself? But neither really captures the full gravity of how that compromise effectively ended Reconstruction and ushered in the Jim Crow era.

I think it kind of misses the point if you don't put EMOJI MODIFIER FITZPATRICK TYPE 1-2 on the corrupt handshake: 🤝🏻. But this is the amazing thing, it does feel like I'm workshopping with Claude. It really feels like a discussion between two people. This isn't Eliza parroting back IS IT BECAUSE OF YOUR MOTHER THAT YOU SAY I DON'T PUT EMOJI MODIFIER FITZPATRICK TYPE 1-2 ON THE CORRUPT HANDSHAKE?.

Could Hayes be a crow? You're supposed to be able to compose ‘bird’, ZWJ, and ‘black square’ to get a black bird. It might be too bitter, even for me.

If you want a conclusion, it is: Claude is fun and useful, even for silly stuff that nobody could have planned for.

[Other articles in category /tech/gpt] permanent link